Index Archive

16 September 2014

Belgium Criminal serving life sentence Frank Bleeken wins 'right to die' euthanasia
The number of euthanasia cases in Belgium has gradually risen each year since the law was first introduced in 2002

The Belgian parliament legalized euthanasia in 2002,
The second country in the world to do

In January 2013, Belgian media reported the deaths of Marc and Eddy Verbessem - 45-year-old identical twins who were deaf and asked for euthanasia after finding out that they would go blind as a result of a genetic disorder.

A Belgian man Van Den Bleeken serving a life sentence for rape and murder will be allowed to have doctors end his life, after a landmark ruling.

Van Den Bleeken first requested euthanasia in 2011 after legal battle of three years he won the case.

Frank Van Den Bleeken, who is 50, argued he would never be freed because of his violent nature which he cannot control.

He was convicted in the 1980s.

BBC reported that Van Den Bleeken will soon be transferred to a hospital where the medical procedure will take place